Certiport U.S. Competition on Microsoft Office: 2011

Please read the Official Rules governing this competition before entering. By taking an eligible Exam, participants agree to be governed by the Certiport 2012 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft® Office Official Rules.

 

Participation in Certiport's 2012 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office (hereafter referred to as "Competition") will offer the Competition on both Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010 Productivity Applications.

To participate, a student must submit a valid score on any of the following certification exams:

Microsoft Office Specialist – Word 2007

Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel 2007

Microsoft Office Specialist – PowerPoint 2007

Microsoft Office Specialist – Word 2010

Microsoft Office Specialist – Excel 2010

Microsoft Office Specialist – PowerPoint 2010

(Hereafter, these certification exams will be collectively referred to as "Exam(s)"). All qualifying Exam(s) must be uploaded into the Certiport exam administration system by an approved Certiport Authorized Testing Center.

Although the Competition is available worldwide, the rules of participation and dates vary slightly by country. Final round Competition exams are available in a limited number of languages. Please visit www.OfficeCompetition.com for a complete list of participating countries, worldwide rules, exam languages supported, and Competition dates. All dates for the Competition begin at 7:00 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time and end at 6:59 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time.

Employees of Certiport, Inc., its affiliates, subsidiaries, parents and related companies and agencies and those individuals living in the same household as employees are not eligible. All federal, state, local laws and regulations apply. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. By taking an eligible Exam and entering this Competition, student, solution provider and distributor participants agree to abide by all terms of these Official Rules.

Participants in the Competition must be students currently enrolled in an approved academic institution recognized by the state or country in which it operates. To compete in the final round of the Competition, students must be between the ages of 13 and 22 (as of June 15, 2012). Verification of student status and student identification is required.

Previous competition regional champions, worldwide finalists and/or worldwide champions are eligible to participate in the 2012 Competition in any exam EXCEPT for the exam and version they previously competed on. For example, a 2011 regional champion on Microsoft 2007 Excel can compete in the Microsoft Excel 2010 track in the Qualifying Round and the Final Round of the Competition.

Participating competitors may enter the Competition (Qualifying Round) in either of two ways:

1. Register Eligible Exam Immediately Prior to Testing: If the eligible Exam is taken at an ACADEMIC Certiport Authorized Testing Center, the iQsystem exam delivery tool will prompt the student to register his/her score into the Competition immediately prior to taking the exam. If the candidate chooses to submit his/her score to the Competition, the results of that exam will be automatically entered into the Competition.
2. Register Eligible Exam(s) Following Testing: Students may also register any eligible Exam(s) after taking the exam(s) by logging onto their Candidate Home Page at www.certiport.com, clicking on the Worldwide Competition link, and following the registration instructions. Eligible Exams registered using this tool must be registered during the official Competition dates of the country in which the eligible Exam(s) was taken. Please visit www.officecompetition.com for a list of dates for various countries. Eligible Exams taken by students at any COMMERCIAL Certiport Authorized Testing Center may also be registered using this tool.

There is no limit to the number of times a student may sit for any particular eligible exam as long as he/she is not in violation of the Certiport exam retake policy. Students who fail to abide by the Certiport exam retake policy will be disqualified from the Competition.

Each Exam score registered for the Competition during the official date range period (the Qualifying Round ends June 15th, 2012) receives one entry into the Competition. Standard test-taking terms and conditions apply.

During the Qualifying Round, a Student can participate in MULTIPLE Exam tracks. For example, they can submit an Excel 2007 and Excel 2010 Exam. However, if they qualify to participate in a Regional/Country Round or the Final Round in Las Vegas, Nevada, they can only compete in only ONE Exam track. Certiport retains the right to disqualify students for appropriate cause.

Qualifying Round – Country Champion Selection:

Country Champions will be selected from among all eligible entries received in each country during the Qualifying Round of the Competition. The Qualifying Round determines the winners of the Competition in each country of the world.

Only one student per partner, per exam category will be eligible to compete in the final round Competition in Las Vegas, NV. For example, a partner could bring a country finalist for both Microsoft Word 2007 and Microsoft Word 2010. They would not be able to bring more than one participant for any single exam, such as Microsoft Word 2007.

In countries where there are multiple partners, each partner may bring up to 6 finalists, one per exam category. A maximum of 12 students from one country may compete in the final round.

Students will only be allowed to participate in the Competition if they are the qualified, designated representative, sponsored by a specific partner, for a single exam. Additional students will not be allowed to attend the Worldwide Competition and/or participate simply for the "experience."

Partners must identify which test categories they will have sponsored student competitors participating in by January 15, 2012.

Country Champions will be selected in one of two ways by the partner (Competition Operator) and/or a regional competition in each country*:

1. Top Score Method: Competition Operator reviews the exam results for the country and selects the student with the top score for Word, the student with the top score for Excel®, and the student with the top score for PowerPoint® per version. These students represent the country at the Worldwide Event. Certiport retains the right to review local Competition Operator selections.
2. Country Final Method: Competition Operator reviews the competition results for the country and invites several top students, to compete at a country finals event. The winners of the country finals event (in Word, Excel® and PowerPoint) represent the country at the Worldwide Event. Certiport retains the right to review Competition Operator selections.

In the event that two participants in the same country have the same high Exam score, the participant who completed the Exam in the least amount of time will be the winner. Decisions of Competition Operators and judges are final. Odds of winning will depend on the number of eligible Exam entries received in each country.

Please note: Complete Student Confirmation information must be submitted to Certiport no later than June 30, 2012. Students that do not submit their complete information to Certiport by that date will not be invited to participate in the World Championships.

*Individual partners/countries may have additional published rules. Please contact your specific partner or refer to your specific regional competition rules for details.

 

Final Round – Worldwide Champion Selection:

All Country Champions will be invited to compete in the 2012 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office to compete to become:

• 2012 Worldwide Champion for Microsoft Office on Word (2007 or 2010)
• 2012 Worldwide Champion for Microsoft Office on Excel® (2007 or 2010)
• 2012 Worldwide Champion for Microsoft Office on PowerPoint (2007 or 2010)

All Country Champions will be responsible for preparing themselves to compete on Microsoft Office software suite version 2007 OR 2010 at the 2012 Worldwide Competition Event. Certiport and/or Certiport's partners may provide Country Champions with preparation materials to help facilitate each student's training on Microsoft Office 2007/2010 software.

Candidates may take qualifying Exams in the Qualifying Round of the Competition in whatever language is available at that time. However, Country Champions will be required to test in one of the available languages listed above at the Worldwide Event in Las Vegas, NV regardless of native or first language.

In the event two Country Champions at the Worldwide Event have the same high exam score on the Microsoft Office Specialist certification exam – version 2007 or 2010 comprehensive exam, and the Part B portions of the exam (where applicable), the Country Champion who completed the exam in the least amount of time will be the winner. Decisions of judges are final. Winners will be notified during the student awards ceremony. Odds of winning will depend on the number of Country Champions present at the 2012 Worldwide Competition Event.

No substitution/transfer/assignment of prize by any winner is permitted. Reporting and payment of all federal/state/local or other taxes are responsibility of each winner. All federal/state/local laws apply.

All materials submitted become the sole property of Certiport, Inc. and will not be returned. False and/or deceptive entries or similar acts shall render entrants ineligible to continue to participate or win with Competition.

Except where prohibited, and at the sole discretion of Certiport, student participation in the Competition constitutes entrant's consent to publication of his/her name, Exam score(s), and city/state/country location on the Competition website and other Competition publicity without limitation or compensation. Potential winners may be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability/Prize Acceptance Form within 10 days of attempted notification. Noncompliance may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Acceptance of any prize constitutes permission for Certiport, Inc. and/or their agencies to use winner's name/likeness/visage, Exam score(s), and city/state/country location for purposes of advertising and promotion without further compensation, unless, but only to the extent, prohibited by law.

Competition awards and/or prizes consist of only those items specifically listed on the Competition website located at www.officecompetition.com. Winner may decline to accept a prize, in which case Certiport, Inc. may select an alternate winner. If necessary due to unavailability, a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded at the discretion of Certiport, Inc. Return of any prize or prize notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and the naming of an alternate winner. Prizes sent to winners will only be available in the fashion selected by Certiport, Inc.

Country Champions must be available to travel to and attend the 2012 Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office, July 29th – August 1st in Las Vegas, NV, USA. All travelers must execute a Release of Liability prior to ticketing and must possess required travel documents (e.g. valid photo I.D., passport, visa, etc.) prior to trip.

Certiport, Inc. is not responsible for incomplete/lost/late/damaged/illegible/misdirected entries or incomplete telephone calls, faulty transmissions, recordings, malfunctions, for technical/hardware/software failures, lost/unavailable network connections, delivery failure or delay, or failed/incomplete/garbled/delayed/faulty computer transmission. Certiport, Inc. reserves the right to cancel/modify the Competition or disqualify entrant if fraud/misconduct/technical failures destroy the integrity of Competition as determined solely by Certiport, Inc. Any attempt by an individual to deliberately damage the website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition is a violation of criminal/civil laws and should such attempt be made, Certiport, Inc. reserves the right to seek damages from any such individual to the fullest extent of the law.

Winners agree to hold Certiport, Inc., and its respective directors/officers/employees/assigns/agents/independent contractors/affiliates/subsidiaries, harmless against any and all claims/liability/demands/actions or causes of action/costs/expenses/attorneys' fees arising out of participation in the Competition and/or acceptance and use of prize. Winners assume all liability for any injury/damage/loss caused/claimed to be caused, by participation in or acceptance and use of prize. Certiport, Inc. is not responsible for any typographical or other error in printing of offer/administration of Competition/announcement of prizes or for liability for damage to any computer system resulting from participation in accessing or downloading information in connection with this Competition. To obtain a list of winners, please visit the Competition website, or e-mail Certiport, Inc. at officecompetition@certiport.com after Monday, August 15, 2012.

Exam Elements

At Certiport’s discretion, the Final Round Exam may have two parts. The first will consist of the standard core competition exam. The second portion is the new component, a scenario-based task.

Contestants will be given a high-resolution copy of a Word document, an Excel workbook, or a PowerPoint presentation to recreate. Competition participants will receive a printed set of guidelines containing specifications for the document, workbook, or presentation, and data files that can be used as building blocks to speed up the recreation of the document, workbook, or presentation. Students will be allowed up to 50 minutes to recreate the document, workbook, or presentation they are provided. To ensure a fair and quality testing experience among all candidates, the new scenario-based exams have undergone the same rigors and standards of test development as traditional online Microsoft Office Certification exams.

This portion of the exam will be taken in a secure testing lab environment with official competition proctors. Candidates may choose to take the two exam portions in staggered sessions; they do not have to take the two portions back-to-back. In addition, the scenario-based tasks will be localized in all exam languages offered in the Worldwide Competition.

The final exam score for each Exam participant will be an equal combination of the two components for the competition.

Certiport is working to improve and enhance the competition experience. By adding a new portion that mimics a real-life scenario, Certiport hopes to highlight students' ability to perform in real world situations.